Ted Cruz's Pastor Father Wows Crowd with Obamacare Speech

In a fiery address over the weekend, Sen. Ted Cruz's father told a crowd of Christian conservatives in Iowa that the United States is edging toward socialism under President Barack Obama, as he joined his son in denouncing Obamacare.

According to ABC News,Texas pastor Rafael Cruz also offered a veiled comparison of Obama to Cuban leader Fidel Castro as he spoke of being a Cuban immigrant who fled the perils of socialism at the time of Castro's communist revolution and later became a U.S. citizen.

In an apparent reference to Obama's 2008 campaign theme of "hope and change," Cruz told the annual summit of the conservative Family Leader group that Castro was "a young charismatic leader" who "rose up, talking about hope and change" to convince people to follow his revolution.

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As he continued with his anti-Obama speech, the 74-year-old pastor warned his audience, "This administration has both their hands in your pocket. They're going to take everything you have."

He charged that the Obama administration has relaxed views on same-sex marriage and other social issues that are aimed at undermining the traditional family structure and eliminating religion.

"Socialism requires that government becomes your god," he said at one point. "That's why they have to destroy the concept of God. They have to destroy all loyalties except loyalty to government."

Referring specifically to Obama's healthcare-reform law, the elder Cruz said it likely would kill some older Americans.

"Let me tell you, our lives are under attack," he said, adding: "Obamacare is going to destroy the elderly by denying care, by even, perhaps, denying treatment to people who are in catastrophic circumstances."

Pastor Cruz also complimented his son, who is believed preparing a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, noting that even before taking office the younger Cruz toured Texas giving speeches on conservative topics.

The senator spoke later in the day, urging once again that the country get behind his call to repeal Obamacare. He was among several Republicans addressing the Family Leader summit, most of them mounting Obamacare attacks.

Pastor Cruz reportedly is scheduled to take part later this month in a "Defund Obamacare Tour" organized by the Heritage Foundation.

In a fiery address over the weekend, Sen. Ted Cruz's father, Rafael, told a crowd of Christian conservatives in Iowa that the United States is edging toward socialism under President Barack Obama, as he joined his son in denouncing Obamacare. According to ABC News, Texas...